Panda, JV meet again -- and mum's the word about World Series

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Pablo Sandoval and Justin Verlander share an inextricable World Series link, though it doesn¡¯t sound like they plan on revisiting that history this spring.

Sandoval, who is back in Giants camp as a guest instructor, famously hit two of his three home runs in Game 1 of the 2012 World Series off Verlander, setting the tone for a four-game sweep of the Tigers.

The two ended up crossing paths after Sandoval arrived at Scottsdale Stadium on Friday, but he avoided a potentially awkward situation by neglecting to mention the performance that landed the former third baseman World Series MVP honors 13 years ago.

¡°I don¡¯t bring it up,¡± Sandoval said, smiling. ¡°I don¡¯t bring it up. When you respect a player, when you respect a guy that is still playing and is throwing the ball the way he does, you don¡¯t bring old memories to his head. It¡¯s going to be there forever, but you don¡¯t bring it up to a guy when you respect a guy.¡±

Sandoval said he¡¯s still getting used to seeing Verlander in a Giants uniform but said he has been impressed with how hands-on the 42-year-old veteran has been with the younger pitchers in camp.

¡°I respect Justin,¡± Sandoval said. ¡°He¡¯s a great pitcher. He¡¯s a great ballplayer. To spend time with him is a great thing. The way he¡¯s [working] with the pitchers, spending time with the young guys, it¡¯s special. It¡¯s kind of weird. I came up to him and talked about it, but he¡¯s a great guy.¡±

Sandoval, 38, hasn¡¯t appeared in the Majors since 2021, but he has continued to play baseball professionally in independent leagues around the world. He recently returned from his second stint with the Mid East Falcons of the Baseball United league in Dubai and plans to suit up for the Staten Island FerryHawks when the Atlantic League begins its regular season in April.

¡°I¡¯m going to play,¡± Sandoval said. ¡°I continue to play until my body says no. I want to play in the Atlantic League again. There¡¯s always new challenges in life. I¡¯m learning a lot of things from this group and the coaching staff. It¡¯s different. It¡¯s way different, but God¡¯s got a purpose for you in life to teach and put the right things to the players.¡±

While Sandoval isn¡¯t ready to hang up his cleats, he wants to maintain his connection to the Giants, especially after watching former teammate Buster Posey take over as the club¡¯s president of baseball operations last year.

¡°It¡¯s interesting,¡± Sandoval said of Posey¡¯s new gig. ¡°You can see his career -- great ballplayer, great person. Now the role that he has is tough, but the things that he¡¯s been doing for the team is special because he knows how important it is to wear this jersey. He knows how to win. He knows how to build and how to put the pieces together to win.¡±

Sandoval wasn¡¯t on the Giants¡¯ original list of guest instructors for this spring, but he reached out to Posey after he flew back from Dubai and said he¡¯d be thrilled to come to camp and work with the next generation of players. He¡¯s already jumping headfirst into that role, heading over to the club¡¯s Player Development Center at Papago Park on Saturday to speak with the organization¡¯s Minor Leaguers.

His message?

¡°Fight for your dream,¡± Sandoval said. ¡°Play the game the right way. Work hard. If you don¡¯t work, you¡¯re not going to succeed.¡±

The Giants are certainly happy to have Sandoval around, as it¡¯s hard not to be inspired by his boundless energy and love for the game.

¡°I just watch and smile,¡± manager Bob Melvin said. ¡°He¡¯s got a lot of enthusiasm, and he¡¯s really happy about being here. I don¡¯t really check in with him, I just kind of watch him do his thing and watch how the guys kind of respond to him. It¡¯s been that way really with everybody that we¡¯ve had here, but he¡¯s got a certain flair to him.¡±